To keep your home or building a comfortable and healthy place to live, proper ventilation is essential. Your attic can become a scorching oven without enough ventilation, which could harm the insulation and roof structure and increase energy costs.
Roof vents let hot air out of the attic, keep moisture from collecting, and ease the pressure on your cooling system. In this blog post, we will cover types of roof vents and some of the best products on the market.
What is Roof Ventilation?
Roof ventilation is essential to control the temperature in the attic, avoid condensation damage, boost energy efficiency, and prolong the life of roofing components.
Efficient roof ventilation also helps prevent the growth of mold, mildew, and rot by eliminating hot air and moisture from the attic and lessening the load on air conditioning systems. The system works to maintain continuous airflow by combining intake vents, such as soffit vents, with exhaust vents, such as ridge and box vents. It can be driven by wind, solar energy, electricity, or natural convection.
Maintaining adequate ventilation preserves the building’s overall structural integrity and creates a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
There are many benefits of roof ventilation, including:
- Improved Air Quality: Prevents mold and mildew growth, keeping indoor air fresh and free of allergens.
- Extended Roof Lifespan: Stops heat and moisture buildup, reducing premature deterioration of roofing materials.
- Reduced Energy Bills: Regulates attic temperature, lessening strain on air conditioning units and heat transfer to living spaces
- Prevention of Moisture Damage: Eliminates mold, mildew, and wood rot, preserving your home’s structural integrity.
- Compliance with Warranty Requirements: Many shingle manufacturers require proper ventilation to validate their warranties, so ensure your roof is installed according to industry standards.
- Ice Dam Prevention: Removes attic heat in cold climates, preventing ice dams and roof ice buildup.
What Are The Different Types Of Roof Vents?
There are two types of roof vents:
Passive Roof Vents
The purpose of passive roofing vents is to efficiently ventilate attic spaces through natural air movement without the need for mechanical assistance.
Benefits Of Passive Roof Vents
- Energy-efficient
- Low maintenance, no moving parts
- Silent operation
- Cost-effective
- Suitable for most climates
Types Of Passive Roof Vents
1. Box Vents
Box vents, usually square or rectangular, are mounted on the roof to let hot air rise out of the attic. They are frequently located in locations where ridge vents might not be appropriate, and they function best when paired with appropriate soffit vents to establish a well-balanced attic ventilation system.
2. Ridge Vents
Ridge vents are installed along the peak of the roof and run the length of it to provide a continuous outlet for hot air to escape from the attic. Because they provide consistent airflow along the entire ridge line, they are regarded as one of the most effective passive roof venting options.
3. Ridge Vents with Baffles
With baffles, ridge vents offer enhanced protection against debris entry. Along the ridge vent, baffles, also known as filters, are placed to let air flow freely but keep out insects, leaves, and other debris offering a hygienic and effective ventilation solution.
4. Soffit Vents
Soffit vents are situated beneath the roof’s eaves and act as intake vents, letting cool outside air into the attic space. When combined with exhaust vents, such as box or ridge vents, they form a continuous airflow system that helps control the attic’s temperature and moisture content.
Active Roof Vents
Compared to passive roof vents, active roofing vents provide continuous ventilation by using mechanical devices like fans or turbines to help air flow into and out of the attic area.
Benefits Of Active Roof Vents
- Works in any weather
- Perfect for both straightforward and complex roofs
- Offers precise ventilation control
- Great for challenging spaces
- Enhances indoor air quality
Types Of Active Roof Vents
1. Turbine Vents (Whirly Birds)
Turbine vents are active roof vents that use wind power and convection to draw hot air out of the attic. These vents feature a series of fans that spin as the wind passes through, creating a suction effect that helps exhaust hot air from the attic space. Turbine vents are effective in areas with consistent wind patterns and can provide additional ventilation when natural airflow may be insufficient.
2. Power Vents
Power roof vents are electrically powered and use fans to expel hot air from the attic. Airflow is regulated by a humidistat or thermostat, which is usually mounted close to the roof ridge. Homeowners can select a power vent that best suits their needs and energy preferences from a variety of hardwired and solar-powered options.
How To Calculate The Amount Of Ventilation You Need
Now that you know how roof ventilation works, it is also important to know how to calculate how much your home needs.
1. Measure the Attic Space
The first step is to measure the square footage of your attic space. Multiply its length and width to obtain the total square footage.
2. Determine Required Net Free Area (NFA)
Calculate the required net free area (NFA) of ventilation. Building codes typically recommend 1-square foot of NFA for every 300-square feet of attic space, evenly divided between exhaust and intake vents.
For example, if your attic spans 3,000 square feet, you’d need 10 square feet of ventilation (3000/300=10), with 5 square feet allocated for exhaust and 5 square feet for intake.
3. Convert to Square Inches
Convert the ventilation area from square feet to square inches, considering that there are 144 square inches in a square foot.
In the example of a 3,000-square foot attic, you’d require 720 square inches of intake and exhaust (5 square feet x 144 = 720 square inches).
4. Select Vents
Choose suitable vents and determine the necessary linear feet of intake vents and individual exhaust vents based on their NFA ratings.
For instance, if utilizing 50 square inch intake vents, you’d require 14.4 vents (rounded up to 15) to fulfill the 720 square inch intake requirement.
Bonus Tip: Use Online Calculators
You can also go for online calculators to streamline the calculation process.
- Owens Corning Roofing Ventilation Calculator
- Atlas Ventilation Calculator
- Lomanco Ventilation Calculator
- DECRA Metal Roofing Systems Ventilation Calculator
- GAF Ventilation Calculator
Best Roof Vents On The Market
If you are considering roof vents for your home, it is important to know the best products available on the market. Some of them are:
#1. Lomanco® Power Vents
The aluminum structure of Lomanco power roof vents ensures durability while quickly removing hot air, making them excellent attic ventilators. The LomanCool™ 2000, with its built in thermostat, is one of their more notable products. A handy “push-to-test” button makes it simple for homeowners to monitor the vent, which is an added bonus.
#2. Air Vent ShingleVent® II
Air Vent’s ShingleVent II, a superior shingle-over ridge vent, provides effective attic ventilation. With both an internal filter and an external baffle for maximum airflow and weather protection, this vent offers reliable, long-term ventilation. Its low-profile design looks great on roofs, and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
#3. Duraflo® PRO Slantback
The Duraflo PRO Slantback roof vent provides high-performance protection against inclement weather and sufficient attic ventilation. It efficiently removes hot air and inhibits the buildup of moisture, enhancing weather protection and deflecting precipitation.
This vent can be installed on most roof pitches, and its specialized baffle system prevents animal nesting and debris intrusion. Plus, this vent is available in multiple colors, including black and weatherwood, to blend in with your roofing material.
What Happens If My Roof Doesn’t Have Proper Ventilation?
Insufficient roof ventilation can lead to various problems affecting both the roof’s integrity and the home interior.
- Condensation and Moisture: Without proper ventilation, moisture rises, causing condensation on the roof deck, potentially leading to wood rot and mold growth.
- Energy Inefficiency: Inadequate ventilation can make the attic warmer, reducing energy efficiency and home comfort.
- Visible Exterior Damage: Improper ventilation can cause visible exterior damage, such as shingles curling or falling off and decking becoming soft, which indicates structural issues.
- Ice Dams: Poor ventilation increases the risk of ice dam formation, which can lead to roof and interior damage.
- Health Risks: Inadequate roof ventilation can introduce mold spores into the air, creating unhealthy living conditions.
Conclusion
For a home’s energy efficiency, air quality, and structural integrity, proper roof ventilation is essential. Knowing the different kinds of roof vents and the best products gives homeowners the power to make the best choices for their property.
For exceptional roofing services, put your trust in OConnor Contracting. We guarantee your happiness and the safety of your home with our custom roof vent installation solutions and excellent craftsmanship. Give us a call at (716) 600-7663.